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Derriford Hospital cancels 1,000 ops during 'black alert' | Derriford Hospital cancels 1,000 ops during 'black alert' |
(about 3 hours later) | |
More than 1,000 operations are thought to have been cancelled at a hospital in Devon that has been on "black alert" since January. | More than 1,000 operations are thought to have been cancelled at a hospital in Devon that has been on "black alert" since January. |
Plymouth Hospitals Trust said routine operations including hernia repair and knee and hip replacements had been cancelled at Derriford Hospital. | Plymouth Hospitals Trust said routine operations including hernia repair and knee and hip replacements had been cancelled at Derriford Hospital. |
The Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital has increased its alert from red to black. | The Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital has increased its alert from red to black. |
"Black alerts" are also in place at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust and Yeovil Hospital in Somerset. | "Black alerts" are also in place at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust and Yeovil Hospital in Somerset. |
The alert means a hospital's services are overwhelmed by demand. | The alert means a hospital's services are overwhelmed by demand. |
'Very sorry' | 'Very sorry' |
Kevin Baber, chief operating officer for Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "In January we cancelled about 700 operations either on the day of surgery or in advance. | Kevin Baber, chief operating officer for Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "In January we cancelled about 700 operations either on the day of surgery or in advance. |
"I would expect February to be the same, so it will be over 1,000 and we're very sorry about that." | "I would expect February to be the same, so it will be over 1,000 and we're very sorry about that." |
Mr Baber said: "The patients that have attended our A&E department have needed to. We have not seen large numbers of patients attending who are inappropriate attenders." | Mr Baber said: "The patients that have attended our A&E department have needed to. We have not seen large numbers of patients attending who are inappropriate attenders." |
He said he "could not answer" when the trust would not be on "black alert".With a fourth South West trust on black alert, the crisis afflicting the region's health service is deepening. The Royal Devon and Exeter (RD&E) and Yeovil are foundation trusts - a status awarded only to higher performing hospitals - yet even they are struggling to cope. | |
The fact that so many frail older people are in hospital adds to the strain. Latest figures show, in a single week, 361 patients couldn't be discharged from the RD&E because the care they needed wasn't in place. | |
Sally Mountjoy, BBC South West correspondent | |
With a fourth South West trust on black alert, the crisis afflicting the region's health service is deepening. The Royal Devon and Exeter (RD&E) and Yeovil are foundation trusts - a status awarded only to higher performing hospitals - yet even they are struggling to cope. | |
The fact that so many frail older people are in hospital adds to the strain. Latest figures show, in a single week, 361 patients couldn't be discharged from the RD&E because the care they needed wasn't in place. | |
What is a black alert? | |
• The NHS uses a national internal alert system based on the colours green, amber, red and black to rank how busy a local health and social care system is | |
• Black alert status occurs when a hospital cannot cope with the number of people coming into the accident and emergency department because not enough people are being discharged | |
• It effectively means the hospital does not have enough bed capacity to cope | |
Matthew Beadnall, 23, has been suffering from severe abdominal pain since September 2014. | Matthew Beadnall, 23, has been suffering from severe abdominal pain since September 2014. |
He was due to attend an appointment with a consultant at Derriford Hospital on 2 February but said it was cancelled four days before. | He was due to attend an appointment with a consultant at Derriford Hospital on 2 February but said it was cancelled four days before. |
Mr Beadnall has another appointment on Monday but is expecting that to be cancelled. | Mr Beadnall has another appointment on Monday but is expecting that to be cancelled. |
He is on co-codamol painkillers "to keep the pain at bay" and said the last five months had been "a nightmare". | He is on co-codamol painkillers "to keep the pain at bay" and said the last five months had been "a nightmare". |
Elsewhere, the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust has been on alert status since last Tuesday. | Elsewhere, the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust has been on alert status since last Tuesday. |
Dr Iain Chorlton, NHS Kernow governing body member, said: "Improvements continue to be seen across the health and care system and no elective operations have been cancelled today." | Dr Iain Chorlton, NHS Kernow governing body member, said: "Improvements continue to be seen across the health and care system and no elective operations have been cancelled today." |
'More clinicians' | 'More clinicians' |
He said the status remained so it could continue to "focus on getting people home from hospital when they're ready to leave". | He said the status remained so it could continue to "focus on getting people home from hospital when they're ready to leave". |
"Some of the steps we have taken to reduce pressure include increasing the number of clinicians working in and supporting the emergency department, including a GP working during peak times and more social workers in the department to help discharge people," he added. | "Some of the steps we have taken to reduce pressure include increasing the number of clinicians working in and supporting the emergency department, including a GP working during peak times and more social workers in the department to help discharge people," he added. |
The local authority, Cornwall Council is funding a recruitment campaign for more care workers in response to the crisis. | The local authority, Cornwall Council is funding a recruitment campaign for more care workers in response to the crisis. |
In Somerset, Yeovil District Hospital said it was contacting those patients whose appointments had been cancelled. | |
Paul Mears, chief executive, said 14 operations had been cancelled on Monday and Tuesday. | |
Torbay Hospital has been on red alert for the past week and Dorset County Hospital is also on red alert - one level below black. | Torbay Hospital has been on red alert for the past week and Dorset County Hospital is also on red alert - one level below black. |